Living In: The Baby-Sitters Club

It’s no secret that we love us some Biz Ladies. So, for today’s Living In, we decided it would be great to highlight some of our own favorite (and fictional) high-powered businesswomen: Kristi, Claudia, Mary-Anne, Stacey, Dawn, Mallory, and Jessi—otherwise known as The Baby-Sitters Club! Although I never read the wildly popular late-80s novels by Ann M. Martin, I must confess to watching this movie on repeat as a child. I was fascinated by the oh-so-teenaged responsibilities of the club’s members—juggling school, babysitting, friendship, and cute boys—and I longed to emulate their entrepreneurial success. The summer that my sister and I practically burned a hole into the Baby-Sitters Club VHS tape from over-watching, we decided that it would be a fabulous idea to start our own babysitting business. Unfortunately, I think we lacked the business savvy of those seven spunky gals— nobody responded to the hand-scrawled advertisements that we tacked to mailboxes around our neighborhood. Still, I have to say that this film, despite its flaws (and, trust, there are many), instilledin me a self-starting, creative desire that has stayed with me to this day. The movie has most definitely not stood the test of time, its early-90s pre-teen tropes weighing it down like a bad crimp-job. This, however, is part of its charm. With performances by 13-year-old Rachael Leigh Cook, Larisa Oleynik, and Zelda Harris (of Crooklyn fame), this movie brings on the 1990s nostalgia hard. Maybe after watching it, you too will want to don some frumpy overall shorts, a scrunchy, and get your babysit on! —Max

This movie sparked the first moment of realization that I loved interior design. I begged my parents to let me redecorate my bedroom to look like Claudia’s. I was so envious of her bookshelves full of Nancy Drew novels and the murals on her walls.

Oh my god, The Babysitter’s Club!! I read almost all the books plus all of The Little Sister series. And I watched this movie a lot. My sister and I still sing the theme song of this movie to each other regularly. And apparently I was deeply inspired, because I built up a very profitable babysitting business of my own as a teen, although I never had a club for it. In fact, I was babysitting a kid a few weeks ago who was watching this movie- she found it at the library. I couldn’t believe that kids are still reading/watching The Babysitters Club.

Um, yes! Not only did I read the books, but I had a nearly complete library, including the little sister and super special books! I, too, had dreams of starting my own baby-sitting business, and a friend and I even made our own kid kits. All that to say…I totally love this post!

Loved the Baby-sitters Club books! This brings back memories… I remember that I never started a proper baby-sitting business, but I did baby-sit and I stole the idea for the kid kits described in the books. Worked a treat.

Just the title of this post cracked me up! I never saw the movie but read all of the books. Then my dad went and married my best friend’s mom and it was like we were living the baby sitters club! Such a blast from the past, I had to comment :)

Living in is turning in to my favorite postings! I loved the BSC and had many failed attempts to start my own club as well…the anatomy rap has to be one of the movie’s highlights. Or Stacy’s best quote “I have allergies, ok?!” when she cries. This became a go-to cry for my sister and me. Oh dear, I’m slightly embarrassed how much of this movie I can quote…

When I was a kid I read all the Baby Sitters Clubs books! I just loved it! I never saw this movie but I’ll download it and watch while I cut the T-shirts for my own Brand that we are launching this summer in Buenos Aires!! I guess that these books helped me dream and wish to have my own buisness one day!

Some of us moms watched it with our kids because of the director, the fab Melanie Mayron. Melanie was famous at the time as the coolest character on thirtysomething. Say, what is she doing now, anyway?

I have never seen the movie, but in the 80s, I’m pretty sure I read every single one of the books; including the one where they worked at camp a million times. Thanks for a little blast from my youth! (and yes, I earned all my money babysitting from age 12-16)

Amazing! I still watch this movie whenever possible, at 31! Once a fan, always a fan. I’d love to see other shows/movies like this too!

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